Deron Williams not letting injuries get in his way

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To say Deron Williams' start to the 2013-2014 season is a disappointment would be an understatement, but Williams isn't letting the early string of injuries get to him.

Throughout the first 21 games, Williams has been plagued with ankle injuries. Though the manner in which he gets hurt isn't his fault, it's still tough to watch a Nets team that can't buy a win without their star point guard. He returned to the lineup last night for the first time since November 20th against the Charlotte Bobcats, who he suffered the most recent ankle injury against. Being that the Eastern conference has been beyond weak is why Deron wasn't rushed back.

“That’s the reason I wasn’t really rushed to get back,” he said. “I see we’re struggling, but then you see the East, you win three, four games and you’re back in it. That’s why I was kind of able to sit back and take my time.” 

In the second half of the 2012-2013 season, Deron found himself at 100% health, and put on display the fact that, when healthy, he may be the best point guard in the NBA. It was looking like there would be some sort of carry-over effect coming into this season, but Williams then suffered a bone bruise while training in Utah over the offseason.

“I was excited about it and then injuries happened,” Williams said Wednesday.

“[I was] definitely frustrated that I couldn’t do that [play at a high level]. I’m sure if people jump off the bandwagon, which is great, but I know what I’m capable of doing when I’m healthy. Unfortunately, I haven’t been healthy the last couple of years, which is frustrating, so hopefully, knock on wood, I can stay healthy and see what I can do.” 

Deron returned to the lineup last night against the Boston Celtics and led the Nets to a second straight victory, putting up 25 points and dishing out seven assists in 37 minutes. He blew past his "minute restriction" of 20-24 minutes early in the second half. He was playing outstanding basketball, which explains him barreling through his restriction.

Last nights game will hopefully be a preview of what is to come from Deron this season, barring further injury. He didn't look anything like the guy that was playing before the ankle sprain against the Bobcats. He looked like the complete opposite, as he was moving much more fluidly, and even blew past defensive specialist Avery Bradley on multiple occasions. There's a reason why we haven't seen that Deron Williams until last night.

“I was hurt. I was hurt before that last injury,” Williams replied. “It was great for this [right] ankle as well to get the rest, it definitely was, because it was still hurting. I didn’t really have that blow-by speed. I’m still getting it. It’s still coming. It was definitely good to heal this [right] ankle while this one [left] was hurting.” 

With Deron finding his way back to being 100% healthy, the Nets may be set up to get themselves back into the conversation. As well as Williams returning, Paul Pierce made his way back to the court last night on a bench role after suffering a fracture in his shooting hand a week and a half ago. His timetable was set at two to four weeks, but Paul Pierce has played through injuries his entire career, so him returning before his timetable is no surprise.

Source: ESPN New York
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